Data from: QTL analysis of behavior in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius)

The genetic architecture of behavioral traits is yet relatively poorly understood in most non-model organisms. Using an F2-intercross (n = 283 offspring) between behaviorally divergent nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) populations, we tested for and explored the genetic basis of different behavioral traits with the aid of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses based on 226 microsatellite markers. The behaviors were analyzed both separately (viz. feeding activity, risk-taking and exploration) and combined in order to map composite behavioral type. Two significant QTL—explaining on average 6 % of the phenotypic variance—were detected for composite behavioral type on the experiment-wide level, located on linkage groups 3 and 8. In addition, several suggestive QTL located on six other linkage groups were detected on the chromosome-wide level. Apart from providing evidence for the genetic basis of behavioral variation, the results provide a good starting point for finer-scale analyses of genetic factors influencing behavioral variation in the nine-spined stickleback.

目前学界对多数非模式生物的行为性状遗传架构仍知之甚少。本研究利用行为趋异的九刺棘鱼（Pungitius pungitius）种群间构建的F2杂交群体（n=283个子代），基于226个微卫星标记开展数量性状位点（quantitative trait locus, QTL）分析，对不同行为性状的遗传基础进行了检测与探究。研究分别对三类行为性状（即摄食活动、冒险行为与探索行为）进行单独解析，同时将其整合以绘制复合行为类型的遗传图谱。在实验全基因组显著性水平下，针对复合行为类型共检测到2个显著QTL，分别位于连锁群3与8，二者平均可解释6%的表型方差。此外，在染色体水平显著性阈值下，于另外6个连锁群上检测到数个提示性QTL。本研究结果不仅为行为变异的遗传基础提供了实证支持，同时也为后续开展九刺棘鱼行为变异相关遗传影响因子的精细尺度分析提供了良好的研究起点。